Every computer when developed, has built in some graphic options, sound, external connections, etc. that is enough and useful for most users. If the user needs to increase some of these characteristics, he should look for an specific peripheral that can make what he wants to on his computer, as the famous video and sound PC cards. This is not different on MSX, although it has in its original project a better sound processor than many others, the generated sound can be much better using a cartridge for that. Looking up around, we can find a 100% national project cartridge, with a fantastic quality and totally compatible with worldwide MSX standard. We are talking about FM SOUND STEREO, developed by Tecnobytes and it's yet a great success.

  This cartrigde brings some characteristics that makes it different from others on MSX market. First, its a new product because, while all other MSX sound cards work with only one audio channel, this one has two independent channels that generate a real stereo. To make sense of the difference that this resource makes, it's like the difference between a movie played on cinema, where the sound became from all around, and a movie played on a monoaural TV. Not only about this new, but the quality is much greater than japanese FMs and similars which seem to have a flat sound. With FM SOUND, the computer surrounds us with wonderful games and demos sound tracks, besides using its own programs to compose songs. Another important thing, is the fact of this incredible and new one cartridge has been developed in Brazil, showing our developers' capacity. For all that, FM SOUND STEREO has its registration on INPI (Instituto Nacional de Propriedade Intelectual or "National Institute for Intelectual Property") granting Tecnobytes a legal and exclusive use of FM SOUND STEREO.

THE PRODUCT

  FM SOUND STEREO cartridge is assembled in that well known plastic wrapping like 80 columns cartridge (brazilian product), has two frontal RCA connectors which allows it to be connected to stereo's receiver AUX IN, and a key which activate or not PSG output by FM SOUND. This one is so useful when the user wishes to hear exclusively FM SOUND, leaving behind some inconvenient PSG "zooms". It's obvious that FM SOUND STEREO will be much better if it's plugged on (nice) stereo receiver, but it can be used with MSX internal mono speaker. I hope that the fortune FM SOUND STEREO buyers dont't do it, because the sound becomes so unpleasent like japanese cartridge.

  The cartridge manual is well elaborated and complete, showing since cartridge installation on computer up to its MSX-MUSIC and Assembly programming, explaining all OPLL (FM sound chip) registers and access ports and bringing many Basic example programs.

  Besides, it's followed by a disquette containing more than 60 ready musics in Basic for the new user be enjoyed by FM SOUND STEREO.

THE MSX-MUSIC

  Panasonic before lauch FM-PAC on japanese market, had lauched only the PAC (Pana Amusement Cartridge), that was only made to save ranking, stage, lifes left, etc. until 8 games. For that, it used a manager program saved in ROM and a S-RAM (Static RAM) which were supplied by a battery that ensured the data would not be lost even after powering down the computer.

  When FM was launched (about 1988) Panasonic joined FM with PAC showing up the famous FM-PAC. So, FM-PAC is nothing more than MSX-MUSIC plus PAC. We can notice that brazilians has a habit, at least funny, to call the same name similar products, eg: Any steel wool is BOMBRIL, all razors are GILETTE and all FM cartridges are FM-PAC.

  Well, for those who has bought a FM cartridge as FM-PAC, here's a tip: to make sure that your cartrigde is a real FM-PAC, type this following Basic command:

CALL FMPAC

  If a menu written in japanese appears on your screen playing an ASHGUINE's song, the cartridge is really an FM-PAC. But if nothing happens and Basic returns syntax error message, you got only MSX-MUSIC.

  But dont't be sad, because FM-PAC is not produced in Japan for a long time. After MSX 2+ appearance, PAC was descontinued, and MSX-MUSIC (what it really matters to us) was standardize, starting to come included in new computers as MSX TURBO R. Tecnobytes crew hasn't included PAC in their cartridge for simple reasons, as the fact o PAC being optional, it's only used in a few games, and being the responsible of final product price's raise for those who are interested on using the cartridge for professional job.

  Backing to our MSX-MUSIC, it's the result of Panasonic's standardization in 1988, which extends MSX Basic by adding some new commands for FM high sound quality usage. Some of new commands are useful and easy to use, that even me, who have never interested on MSX music creation, succeded in using FM sounds and create some musics. Basic extensions like "call" allows the user to create instruments, change its pitch, select existing instruments, among other things (see MSX-MUSIC command table).

  MSX-MUSIC is very versatile, allowing to create an instrument by editing only 8 bytes of its sound characteristics. It means that we have about 256^8 possible instruments. I think this must be enough, right? As FM SOUND STEREO is fully compatible with japanese FM in Basic commands, is hardware compatible too, using the powerful audio processor OPLL. FM SOUND STEREO brings a powerful and versatile 9 channel synthesizer capable of generate infinite sounds, with a quality and realism never seen on MSX before. Besides working together with PSG, expanding total channel number to 12 (9 FM + 3 PSG). Also in MSX-MUSIC, user has 5 pieces of drums and 64 musical instruments, which one of them can be defined by user. Is easy to play pianos, guitars, violins, flutes and much more instruments that come already set.

  With FM SOUND STEREO is possible to set a real simultaneous orchestra at your home, as this example:

  Great! Now you can program them separately, setting different arranges on each instrument. In addiction, you can also use the 3 PSG channels, besides it doesn't have the same quality as FM does, they become more versatile because it uses the same MSX-MUSIC commands.

  By following international standards strictly, FM SOUND STEREO counts on many programs that take advantage of its high quality sound capacities. There are more than 100 games which uses FM sound, giving them an incredible realism with their whole sound tracks.

  European demos for MSX 2 and MSX 2+ are a real hpnosis sessions! They put together images generated on MSX screen with sound and musics that include from Enigma to Jean Michael Jarre, in beautiful compositions.

  Before MSX 1 user give up buying the cartridge, is good to remember that it works on any MSX computer and provides that sophisticated MSX-MUSIC commands, has programs like MUSICA and OPLL DRIVER for music edition. But, the real favored by FM SOUND STEREO is MSX 2 and MSX 2+ users, where programs like SYNTH SAURUS combines MSX sound resources with graphic possibilities. Besides them, there are FAC SOUND TRACKER PRO, MGSEL, STUDIO FM, MOONBLASTER, among others, and all of that without talking about music collections. So, we can conclude that this cartridge is wonderful and it's a must for those game and demo lovers or who wants to work with music on MSX.

  For those who are interested, FM SOUND STEREO can be found at the following retailers*:

TAKERU SOFTWARE – (021) 231-2335
COBRA SOFTWARE – (011) 819-2706
REDESOFT – (011) 463-1690

See below some FM SOUND STEREO compatible programs:

Games:

Animal Wars 2, Playball 3, Princess Maker, Valis 2, Tetris 2, Supre Zelister, Pacmania, Feed Back, Arkamble Dragon, F1 Time Pilot, Jump Hero 2, Phantasy 3, Columbus, MID Garts, etc ...

Demos and tools:

Disk Station (all), The Ultimate Rax Demo, FM FAC Demo, Lighting Demo, Club Guide, Myadock, Saurus Lunch, etc ...

See other FM SOUND STEREO compatible programs at Tecnobytes announcement in this edition.

The article above was taken from brazilian magazine MSX Top Class # 2, published in 1993.
* The article was published in 1993. So, these retailers don't work with FMSS anymore. But it can be found at www.tecnobytes.8k.com and it's still being sold.
This article was translated into english by Marcelo Silveira.